Studio art students of Kadema Hall have come together to draft a letter to Sacramento State’s administration addressing deteriorating infrastructure, along with “gaslighting” and “intimidation” tactics from administration. The letter is following two silent chalk protests and a student disciplinary conference.
The letter detailed dismissive behavior from President Luke Wood during a face-to-face conversation, in regards to Kadema Hall’s current state. Students compared the university’s response to a “narcissistic parent child relationship” between the art department, athletes and administration. The students also detailed unclear communication regarding funds taken from the facility budget. The letter ended with a thank you to maintenance workers.
The State Hornet cannot confirm discrepancies or validities in the letter.
Stefani Figueroa, a studio art graduate student, said over a dozen Kadema Hall students contributed to the letter. The voices of students throughout the studio art major are represented, including those with emphasis in ceramics, print making, drawing, painting and more.
“We’re not gonna be swayed, we’re not gonna be silenced and we’re not gonna be put in a position to turn against each other, or gaslit into thinking that the student athletes cause this problem,” Figueroa said.
The studio art students are looking for equity between the athletic and art department. Figueroa said art studio students feel their art department is not prioritized as much as sports because there is a lack of transparency in their budget.
The university recently paid $23 million for its football team to join the Mid-American Conference in July.
“I understand why the student athletes have some of the amenities that they do. I’m not arguing that they shouldn’t have those amenities,” Figueroa said. “I’m saying if some students are going to get amenities, like private tutors, meals and transportation around campus, there should be action plans to make those amenities accessible widely.”
The Student Athlete Resource Center offers tutoring through their The Student-Athlete Academic & Life Skills Lab, and raised these funds during Give Sac State Day.
Figueroa said the studio art students wrote the letter to focus on current issues between upper administration and the department’s lack of accountability. She stated that an Instagram Direct Message conversation between a former student and Wood helped prompt the letter. The former student requested to stay anonymous in concern of their future education.
RELATED: Sac State ceramic department holds silent protest
The DM on Instagram from Wood, as mentioned in the letter, said, “Thousands of dollars of damage defacing Latine murals during Hispanic Heritage Month. All for a message that could have been an email.” Figueroa stated the message from Wood was dismissive of the studio art student’s concerns.
The State Hornet reached out to Wood in regards to the Instagram Direct Message and the current state of Kadema Hall via email. He replied with “no comment”.
Elaine O’Brien, a retired art professor who taught for 26 years at Sac State, said her Art 7 class created the murals in the early 2000s under the theme of art history. Through the murals, students expressed their own cultures, including Japanese, Egyptian and Hispanic culture along with a theme of women in art, stated O’Brien.
“I actually think that the students who made the mural, and I, would encourage students to speak up,” O’Brien said. “And if they’re just using chalk, I have no problem with that.”
Since the silent chalk protests, Figueroa and other studio art students said they have seen an increase of facility workers checking on infrastructure and equipment, but not addressing the bigger issues within the hall. Figueroa said that there is often unclear communication between administration, facility workers and art students.
“We all felt like it was a good idea, not only to address the facilities and facilities management, to kind of say, ‘Hey, we’re not blaming you, we’re not mad at you. This isn’t between students and facilities workers,’” Figueroa said.
Tyler Mickschl, a senior studio art student with an emphasis on ceramics, is currently in an open investigation after talking to The State Hornet about the second silent chalk protest. He said that students are not highlighting “petty” details, but trying to eliminate environmental and health risks. Students are worried about faulty electrical, lack of appliances compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and improper ventilation for silica, dust, ceramic mixers and more.
RELATED: UPDATE: Student in active investigation after silent chalk protest
Studio art students have previously crowdfunded over $2,500 for an ADA compliant ceramics throwing wheel in 2025, stated Mickschl. The fundraising ended on Dec. 31, 2025, and the studio art department has not received the throwing wheel.
An instructional support technician, who asked to remain anonymous out of concern for their employment, said wheelchair users and individuals with mobility issues cannot access the current ceramic wheels.
“Having an ADA compliant, throwing wheel opens up the course,” said the technician.
The technician stated students with disabilities who have previously expressed interest in the course were required to enroll and show a need before any ADA accessible equipment is added. They said that the department has standing fixtures spread out in the classroom to make the environment as ADA compliant as possible.
“There’s enough room between wheels and tables, but the second that you put bodies in that room, the second that there’s students in those chairs, it is no longer accessible to somebody in a wheelchair,” said the technician.
The space between throwing wheels and the rest of the pottery studio 131 in Kadema Hall Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. The room is inadequate for any individual who uses a wheelchair to move around freely. (Claire Harrell)
A sophomore studio art student, who requested to stay anonymous due to safety, said they were shocked to see the studio art facilities at Sac State after transferring from Cosumnes River College.
“CRC has a very large wheel room, with very tall ceilings, proper ventilation and a large kiln yard,” said the sophomore student. “They have proper drains and proper traps on the sink, for getting that treatment from a community college and then moving to a CSU, I thought the facilities would be elevated too.”
Kadema Hall has ties to both Indigenous and studio art students, having this space not being properly maintained is frustrating for both parties, the sophomore student stated.
Figueroa stated this is a campus wide issue, the studio art students have been the voices at the front of these issues.
“With painting and sculpture being considered fine art, and ceramic and print making being considered craft, this is technically a craft building,” said the sophomore student. “Craft is often, within the art world, considered less than because it is Indigenous.”
The sophomore student said as an Indigenous student they feel administration is not considering the implications of their actions. Kadema Hall is named after the Niesan Maidu village, which previously occupied the location of Kadema Hall.
“We really want to make sure that we are keeping the community strong, reminding the student body that this is not us versus them,” Figueroa said. “It’s about unity, making sure the people here, and the people that pay to be here are taking care of, and the decisions the university makes need to have that mindset.”
The State Hornet reached out to Wood for a statement in an email in regard to the letter and he stated, “Open letter? Would you please share with me? They delivered this to my office?”
After a follow up email asking for a comment and resharing the letter previously sent by Kadema Hall students, Wood did not respond with a statement by press time.
Correction 10/20/2026 5:44 p.m.: This article previously contained an additional photo gallery, this has since been removed due to updated information.
A clogged drain in vestibule eight located in Kadema Hall Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. This is one example of the improper draining system throughout the hall.